Calgary Mustangs | |
---|---|
City | Calgary, Alberta |
League | Alberta Junior Hockey League |
Division | South |
Founded | 1990 |
Home arena | Father David Bauer Olympic Arena |
Colours | Navy blue and gold |
General manager | Jeff Richards |
Head coach | Jeff Richards |
Franchise history | |
1972–1976 | The Pass Red Devils |
1976–1978 | Pincher Creek Panthers |
1978–1979 | Calgary Chinooks |
1979–1990 | Calgary Spurs |
1990–2010 | Calgary Royals |
2010–present | Calgary Mustangs |
The Calgary Mustangs are a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena, capacity 1800. They were known as the Calgary Royals from 1990 until 2010.
The Calgary Jr. "A" Royals were born in 1972-73 as The Pass Red Devils, playing out of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. The Red Devils franchise lasted four years before relocating to the nearby community of Pincher Creek to become the Pincher Creek Panthers. The franchise lasted only two seasons in Pincher Creek before relocating to Calgary to become the Calgary Chinooks. In 1979-80, under a new ownership group, the Chinooks became the Calgary Spurs.
Following the 1989-90 season, the Spurs ceased operations, leaving the AJHL with just seven franchises. Sensing the need for two Calgary based franchises (along with the Calgary Canucks), four local businessmen purchased a new franchise and named it the Calgary Jr. "A" Royals with the mandate of providing Calgary and area kids with the opportunity to combine a high level of hockey with a quality education.
The Royals were immediately successful, finishing second in the regular season standings, behind the Fort Saskatchewan Traders and winning the league championship in their first season. The Royals have been unable to duplicate that success, as the team has failed to make it past the second round of the playoffs since winning the title.
Faced with the challenges of sharing a market with the National Hockey League, Western Hockey League and another AJHL team, the Royals have persevered through the dedication of its corporate partners and many volunteers. Seeking to distinguish itself from the city's minor hockey program of the same name, the franchise renamed itself the Mustangs prior to the 2010–11 season.